From the Birmingham Business Journal: Riley calls special session to discuss development incentives:

Gov. Bob Riley is calling the Alabama Legislature into special session beginning Feb. 26 to help the state pursue major economic opportunities.

Riley is working to recruit several companies to bring thousands of new jobs to Alabama. But, to do so he must have access to incentive money. Riley seeks to raise the state’s bond-issuing ceiling by $400 million. The legislature is required to pass legislation to permitting that action. Then, voters must approve amending the state constitution to green light the increase. The election cannot take place until 90 days after the end of the session in which the legislation passed.

That we have to do basic business in the state in this fashion yet again underscores the stultifying influence of the state constitution.  The idea that we have to amend the constitution to engage in the simple promotion of the state to attract investment is nuts.

The Birmingham News explains the basic motivation for the special session at this point in time:sets special session

A special session before the regular session begins is necessary because the Governor’s proposals require amendments to the state constitution. Proposed amendments cannot go before voters until at least 90 days after the close of the legislative session in which they are passed by the Legislature. By approving the proposals in a special session ending on March 2, the people will get to vote on them in June. If there is no special session and the measures aren’t passed until the regular session, they won’t come before the voters until mid-September at the earliest because the regular session doesn’t end until June 18. By then, Alabama likely will no longer be in contention for these economic development projects and the thousands of new jobs they would bring to our state.